Conservation Conscious

Route:      Windhoek Airport to City
Distance: 48 km

Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an  international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city  is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and  the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern  buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church,  and the more contemporary Supreme Court. 

Journey: You will be met in the arrivals hall of our International airport and transferred into the city of  Windhoek. Remainder of day at leisure. Depending on your arrival time we suggest joining a short City & Katutura  tour / Penduka - Craft market.  

Overnight: The Weinberg Windhoek 
The Weinberg Windhoek provides all of the exclusivity and privacy you might expect from this prestigious Estate – making it the perfect retreat when travelling on vacation or business. The elegant 43-bedroom hotel wraps around a  heritage building, creating an inviting courtyard. This design complements its historic character, while modern amenities  ensure the utmost comfort. Aside from the location and spectacular views, hotel guests also have access to facilities  including the Estate’s Life Day Spa and five upmarket restaurants and the Conference Centre.

Route:      Windhoek to Okonjima
Distance: 220 km

Midway between the spectacular Etosha National Park and the capital city of Windhoek, lies the well-known Okonjima  Nature Reserve. The 22 000 hectare nature reserve is home to AfriCAT, a carnivore sanctuary, which gives the captive  cats a second chance to be released back into the wild and become completely independent hunters in a protected area right in the middle of commercial cattle farmland. Visitors can enjoy a stay at a variety of excellent accommodation  options including everything from luxury villas to secluded camping. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy thrilling cat tracking guided safaris, leopard-spotting, off-road night drives and learn about local San culture along the Bushmen  trail. 

Journey: After breakfast your car rental agency will collect you and take you to their premises to complete rental  contract and do a vehicle check with you. From here you head off on your Namibian holiday. 

Okonjima Nature Reserve is equally famed for frequent leopard, brown hyaena and pangolin sightings on its safaris, as  well as The AfriCat Foundation. Since being founded in 1991, AfriCat’s mission has been to make significant  contributions to conservation, while trying to ensure the survival of Namibia’s predators in their natural habitat. It  undertakes research and environmental education projects. 

Overnight: Okonjima Plains Camp  
Okonjima Plains Camp is within the secluded wilderness area of Okonjima Nature Reserve and has majestic sunset  views. Its design honours the Hanssen’s family cattle-farming history with its accommodation facility of 10 large View  Rooms and 14 spacious Classic Rooms. The Plains Camp Barn includes a dining and lounge area, a curio shop and a  terrasse with views over a waterhole and the Okonjima plains.  

Game drives in search of elusive leopards and guided bush walks offer visitors an intimate, up-close perspective of  Namibia’s wildlife and, especially, its most protected species. Whether you hike or are an avid bird watcher, there are  endless ways to spend your time at Okonjima. 

Okonjima Nature Reserve is recognized as one of the premier places to stay to witness carnivores and other endangered  species like the aardvark, pangolin and brown hyaena in the wild and to be educated about conservation. The AfriCat  Foundation was born in the early 1990’s, a Namibia registered non-profit organization which started out primarily as a  welfare organization, and has since become focused on research projects which are essential in accomplishing its  mission of the long term conservation of Namibia’s wildlife. 

Route:      Okonjima to Onguma Reserve
Distance: 350 km

Situated east of Etosha, bordering Fisher's Pan, Onguma Game Reserve is one of Namibia's best-kept secrets. The reserve offers visitors the opportunity to experience Africa in all her beauty and diversity. Onguma Game Reserve features over 34000 hectares of protected land scattered with a variety of wildlife including plains game, black rhino, kudu, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard and more than 300 bird species. The seasonal rains attract thousands of migrating birds to the Fisher’s Pan wetland area. The neighbouring Etosha National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife, including four of the Big 5. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided walks and rhino research drives within the private reserve as well as wildlife safaris into Etosha National Park to view abundant game in the largest national park in Namibia.

Journey: An early morning activity before you depart, either to the AfriCat Foundation or leopard tracking before you  head north via the towns of Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb to a private reserve situated on the eastern border of Etosha  National Park.  

As well as being a popular safari lodge, the Onguma Nature Reserve provides a unique sanctuary for wildlife populations,  including the critically endangered Black Rhino. In 1993 black rhino numbers dropped by a staggering 96%, which is when Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism decided to take matters into their own hands and set up the  ambitious Black Rhino Custodianship Programme. Since then, all black rhino in Namibia are state owned; the concept  of Namibia’s Black Rhino Custodianship Program is that breeding populations of black rhino are relocated to suitable  habitat where the landholders are willing and able to undertake the responsibility of providing care and security to  them. 

As the custodians of this unique nature reserve, it is our duty to help and protect the wildlife within for the survival of  the species. Not only Rhino, but all animals. Without our input and protection, wildlife will go extinct very soon as greed  and power dictate demand. 

Visiting Onguma is not only about experiencing wildlife in a natural environment, more importantly it is about helping  to protect it. 

Overnight: Onguma Bush Camp  
Onguma Bush Camp is ideal for families who would like to have a base from which they can explore Etosha National  Park. Upon your return, relax and cool off around the swimming pool while watching a spectacular sunset... and the  children can run around on the lawns as this is an enclosed camp.  

Dinner is served in the dinning area overlooking a large waterhole. Here you will be treated to an excellent combination  of European and traditional African cuisine while watching the game coming to drink.  

The new water-level hide will provide hours of game viewing opportunities for guests. 

Onguma Nature Reserve now offers an opportunity to start a safari from the moment guests touch down at the private  airstrip! 

Journey: Own game drives into Etosha National Park or book onto one of the many lodge activities.

Optional 

Onguma Onkolo Hide
Onguma Onkolo Hide features Onguma's fabulous new water-level hide which affords guests an opportunity to sit and  enjoy nature unobserved. There is a small ablution facility nearby, benches from which to view the surroundings and  lots of windows and vantage points for creative camera angles.

Onguma Etosha Game Drive 
Onguma Etosha Game Drive takes guests into the Etosha National Park in the mornings and afternoons, accompanied  by experts tour guides in open-sided vehicles. Guests will have an opportunity to see about 114 species of mammal in  Etosha. They include the black-faced impala and the threatened black and white rhino. There are however no buffaloes,  hippos, crocodiles or monkeys, but there is enough to keep guests enthralled on the game drive. 

Onguma Interpretive Bush Walks
Onguma Interpretive Bush Walks features a unique physical, mental and spiritual adventure through nature. Visitors  will experience the sights, smells and sounds of the Namibian bush by conducting an early morning leisurely walk  accompanied by experienced armed rangers. The interpretive walks will bring visitors closer to nature by exposing them  to the intimate detail of the surroundings. 

Route: Onguma Reserve to Ongava Reserve
Distance: 200 km+

Journey: Enter the world renown Etosha National Park, this will be in your rental touring vehicle as you traverse from the Namutoni region to Okaukuejo. Ongava Reserve which shares a common boundary with the Etosha National Park and is considered one of the finest private game reserves in the region, enjoying global recognition for exceptional conservation, ground breaking research and exciting safari adventures. Cutting edge research into the genetics of Ongava’s rhino population is just one example of how the work being done at Ongava is making a difference to conservation not only in Namibia but also throughout Africa. As the base for ORC, Anderssons at Ongava provides an interactive hub for guests to learn about conservation science, where cutting edge technology meets hands on, fieldbased research.

Overnight: Anderssons At Ongava
With pressing environmental issues threatening our future, Ongava is once again responding to the needs of the planet and our guests with the creation of Anderssons at Ongava and the Ongava Research Centre (ORC), the next generation in eco-tourism.
Taking a lesson from the wild in the power of symbiotic relationships, Anderssons at Ongava provides an interactive hub for guests to be a part of conservation science, where cutting edge technology meets hands on, field-based research. Guests at Anderssons at Ongava have the option of being immersed in and can contribute to developing creative, knowledge driven solutions with resident scientists, visiting researchers, conservationists and rhino security personnel, or simply relaxing and enjoying the luxurious guest suites, waterhole, viewing hide, and pool where they will find their own personal place for reflection. Ensuring a light footprint and an exceptional experience, Anderssons at Ongava will have seven contemporary designed luxury guest units and one family unit, accommodating a maximum of 18 Guests.

Activities 
Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park 
Situated in northwestern Namibia, the Etosha National Park offers a premier game viewing experience. The park’s  diverse vegetation ranges from dense bush to open plains attracting a variety of wildlife. Located in the heart of the  park is the Etosha Pan - a shallow depression that covers an area of 5000 square kilometres. Dry and shimmering for  most of the year, the pans fill up with water after seasonal rains, making it the perfect habitat for wildlife. In the dry  season, the wildlife is attracted to the perennial springs and waterholes that makes for excellent game viewing. Visitors  can look forward to world-class game viewing including a variety of large mammals such as lion, elephant, leopard,  rhino, zebra, giraffe, a diversity of birdlife such as flamingoes and pelicans.

Route:      Ongava Reserve to Grootberg Lodge
Distance: 245 km

Journey: Your travels today take you through commercial farmlands to the Etendeka Plateau and one of our community conservation success stories - Grootberg Lodge perched over the Klip River plateau. 12 000 hectares have been set aside by the #Khoadi//Hoas community for conservation and tourism, and it is through this pristine wilderness that you can explore either on foot or by car to encounter the inhabitants of this remote area.

Overnight: Grootberg Lodge 
14 Twin and 2 family rock and thatch chalets gaze out over the Klip River Valley, where Black Eagles hunt just below  your private deck. Two family units provide enough space for parents and two children to share comfortably.

Journey: We suggest taking joining either the rhino or elephant tracking programs today, ending off your day with a  scenic drive or sundowner. 

Optional

• Grootberg Lodge Rhino Tracking
• Grootberg Lodge Elephant Tracking
• Grootberg Scenic Drives
• Grootberg Guided Walks 
• Grootberg Lodge Damara Cultural Tour

Grootberg Lodge Rhino Tracking 
Grootberg Lodge Rhino Tracking involves guests being taken on an unforgettable exploration on foot amidst the cliffs  of the Klip River Valley and rising plateau of volcanic basalt ridges, by dedicated guides and local trackers. The activity  is managed, and the number of guests participating is restricted to a maximum of 10 people per day, to ensure that it  is both natural and non-obtrusive for the animals. 

Grootberg Lodge Elephant Tracking
Grootberg Lodge Elephant Tracking is one of the most popular activities at the lodge. Guests set out in the early morning  with a guide and a tracker to the surrounding farms in search of elusive desert elephants. Since the elephants roam  free in the conservancy, sightings cannot always be guaranteed but the experience also gives one the opportunity to  learn and appreciate more about the lifestyle of the local people. Lunch is provided in the shade of a tree in the remote  wilderness of Damaraland. Guests can expect to return to the lodge during the early afternoon enriched by the beauty  of Damaraland and its unique elephants. 

Grootberg Scenic Drives
Grootberg Lodge is situated in the Damaraland on the Etendeka Plateau and offers twice daily scenic drives on top of  the plateau. Guests can experience a variety of wildlife sightings including zebra, antelope, jackal, springbok, kudu and  oryx and occasionally leopard and lion. Grootberg Lodge is wholly owned by the local community and the continuous  conservation efforts have resulted in wildlife numbers growing in this conservancy. 

Grootberg Guided Walks  
Grootberg Lodge is situated in the Damaraland on the Etendeka Plateau and offers daily guided scenic walks on top of  the plateau. The first 3-hour tour begins after breakfast at 07h30. The knowledgeable guides take guests through the  Etendeka mountains focussing on the various inhabitants, fauna and rock formations.

Grootberg Lodge Damara Cultural Tour 
As part of the Grootberg Lodge Damara Cultural Tour, guests will be guided through the surrounding conservancy farms  in which Grootberg Lodge is located, visiting the authentic homesteads of the Damara people. This allows guests an exclusive opportunity to spend time with their hosts, getting to understand their origins, cultures, traditions and  approach to human-wildlife conflict farming within the harsh conditions of the desert they call home. 

The tour includes a visit to the #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy office where guests will meet the staff and gain some  insight into the positive impacts and benefits that the conservancy enjoys as a result of owning the Grootberg Lodge.  The tour concludes with a visit to Erwee Primary School and a cultural performance by the pupils, followed by lunch  under the trees in a remote spot of the Damaraland wilderness.  

Guests will depart from the lodge in the morning and return after lunch, and there is a minimum allowance of 2 guests  per excursion and a maximum of 9 guests per vehicle. 

Route:      Grootberg Lodge to Camp Kipwe
Distance: 130 km

Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twyfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab Valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced. Visitors can look forward to basing themselves at some wonderfully shady campsites along the Aba-Huab riverbed, while exploring over thirty different sacred ritual sites of the traditional hunter-gatherer communities.

Journey: Travel down the Grootberg Pass exploring more of Damaraland where the flora and fauna have adapted  perfectly to the harsh weather conditions. Areas of interest include the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO  world heritage sight. In addition geological sites such as the Organ pipes and Burnt Mountain are worth a visit and for  a great cultural experience visit the Damara Living Museum.  

The Lodge prides itself in being a part of the conservancy they operate in. They invest in the backbone of their structure,  our people, through amongst other training and are currently in the process of setting up a community vegetable garden  so as to purchase vegetables from a community-based vegetable garden in the conservancy as well as supporting other  projects such as the expansion of the waterhole to ensure a herd of 18 elephants have enough to drink when they pay  a visit. Their interests span far beyond the conservancy with support of the desert lion project. To preserve their natural environment, indigenous plants which are harvested and replanted around the lodge and waterhole. They ‘reduce, reuse  and recycle’ all refuse and use energy saving bulbs as well as solar geysers to reduce the carbon footprint. 

Overnight: Camp Kipwe 
Camp Kipwe is an intimate and remote bush lodge located in Namibia's arid yet starkly beautiful Twyfelfontein region,  home to many ancient Bushman etchings.  

The 9 specially-designed bungalows are unique, air conditioned and round in shape, complete with a an open-air  bathroom and spectacular views from your verandah over the surrounding area. The Kipwe Suite is a thatched suite  with a lounge equipped with air-conditioning, a satellite television, a double room with en-suite bathroom, laundry  service and a mini-bar. The two Luxury Suites are elevated atop the kopje and benefit from sweeping views across  either east or west across the landscape. Complete with lounge, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom before spilling out on  a large deck with heated splash pool, sala and sunbeds.  

Camp Kipwe offers guided nature walks around the Twyfelfontein Conservancy, as well as trips to see the Bushman  etchings, the mysterious Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain. For a very special experience, an Elephant Nature Drive is a  must-do; explore the terrain in search of these elusive desert-dwelling elephants who have adapted to the dry and  sandy conditions of northern Namibia. 

Route: Camp Kipwe to Swakopmund
Distance: 322 km

Set along Namibia's spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues,  colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South-West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town,  Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of  German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laid-back atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it a very popular  Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding,  paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours. 

Journey: The mining town of Uis would be your first stop today, the settlement was established in 1958 when it was a  tin mining hub, today it is well known for its local mineral wealth although the open pit mine has closed there are some  3600 inhabitants. Being on the main road between the coast and interior as well as at the base of the Brandberg  Mountain, Namibia's highest peak, Uis sees a reasonable amount of traffic, by Namibian standards. 

Once you've crossed the gravel plains to reach the coastal road we suggest you head north to visit Cape Cross seal  Reserve before heading down past the town of Henties Bay to Swakopmund.  

Overnight: Strand Hotel 
With its extensive, unique and creatively entertaining Restaurants, Bars, Deli, Lobby-Lounge, Sea Facing Terraces,  Beach Kiosk and state of the art Conference & Banqueting Center, all set on the Mole, a historic and iconic site  surrounded by Ocean on three sides, the Strand Hotel Swakopmund is a social epicenter and destination in itself for all  visitors to and residents of Swakopmund. 

Its architectural inspiration finds its roots deep in Namibian-German history and reflects this in a tasteful contemporary  manner. The interiors are residential in nature, and the brief to all designers involved was to create a non-hotel, hotel.  One as charming and welcoming as the town it is located in. Simply very warm and comfortable, and as they say in  German: “gemütlich” providing a genuine “sense-of-place” atmosphere adding to any Namibian visit. 

Arriving at the Strand is a dramatic experience as one passes through its 13m high and 9m wide Ocean View Atrium  which travels right through the Hotel offering sea views at either end. Off this Atrium Lobby is Reception, consisting of  three individual desks and an inviting open fireplace which rounds off the residential feel and warm welcome. 

Optional 

Cape Cross

Cape Cross
The small headland of Cape Cross lies on western Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, roughly 60 kilometres north of Henties  Bay. The historic area was landed on by the Portuguese in 1486, and they erected a stone cross here in honour of the  Portuguese King, however, this cross was replaced by the German settlers in the 1800’s. Cape Cross best known for its  extraordinary breeding colony of Cape fur seals and has been made a reserve. With the abundance of fish swimming in  the cold Benguela current, the seals have plenty to snack on, and they also enjoy lying and playing out in the sun. From  a 200-metre-long walkway, watch the seals at play and learn about them through the area’s information points.

Journey: Day at leisure in this coastal town - there are quite a number of optional activities, in addition to those listed  there is also sandboarding, quad biking, Swakopmund cultural tours, and scenic flights over the coastline and interior. 

Optional

Tommy’s Tours and Safaris Living Desert Tour

Catamaran Charters

Sandwich Harbour 4x4

Tommy’s Tours and Safaris Living Desert Tour 
The Living Desert Tour, originally developed by Tommy himself in the 1990’s, is a unique 4x4 adventure drive through  the dunes outside Swakopmund, Namibia. Just the drive in the dunes is an amazing experience, but Tommy will show  you a lot more than sand. The tour takes you from the vegetated, life-rich eastern side of the dunes, right through the  dunes to the Atlantic Ocean on the western side of the dune belt. 

Catamaran Charters 

The Catamaran Charters Team invites you aboard the 45ft Royal Cape Sailing Catamaran Silverwind, or the 60ft Simon  Sailing Catamaran Silversand, or the 40ft Admiral Motorised Catamaran Silvermoon, to enjoy an adventure packed tour  to Pelican Point and Walvis Bay’s beautiful bay area. The chances of encountering dolphins, whales, turtles, seals and Mola Mola (sunfish) make the search for the marine  big 5 and adventurous tour by enjoying sparkling wine, fresh oysters and other mouth-watering snacks aboard the  spacious and comfortable catamarans. 

Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Scenic Excursion Half Day 
Departing from the Walvis Waterfront, Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Scenic Excursion Half Day travels to Walvis Bay Lagoon  to see masses of flamingos and other coastal birds that reside in and around the lagoon at different times of the year.  From here, the drive initially takes participants to the Kuiseb River delta, a dry riverbed where the odd springbok, oryx  or jackal may be spotted. If weather and tides allow, adventurers will drive to the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon along the  beach, one of Southern Africa’s unique wetlands and one of five RAMSAR sites (Ramsar site no. 743) in Namibia. There  will also be an opportunity for participants to enjoy something to eat at a suitable place to stop, where a selection of  oysters and snacks with sparkling wine, beers and cool drinks will be served.

Route:      Swakopmund to NamibRand Nature Reserve
Distance: 432 km

Spanning an area of 172,200 hectares and encompassing four distinct ecosystems, the NamibRand Reserve of southern  Namibia is among the largest privately owned game parks in Southern Africa. Founded to conserve the unique  environment and wildlife species of the Namib Desert, the park’s mix of dunes, mountains, rocky outcrops, sandy flats,  and gravel plains provides habitats for a diversity of mammals, including hyenas, jackals, foxes, antelopes, and various  wild cats. A plethora of bird species, reptiles, insects, and frogs also have their home here, alongside an array of plant  species. Discover the mysterious ‘fairy circles’, unexplained bare patches in the sand, or enjoy a night of sublime  stargazing - having been named Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, it is one of the least light-polluted areas  in the world. 

Journey: An early start is recommended today. You can either travel to Walvis Bay and head inland from there, or  drive to the Moon Landscape and Welwitschia Plains before heading down to the Namib Desert.  

Travel via the Kuiseb and Gaub Canyons to the settlement of Solitaire and on to the NamibRand Nature Reserve.  A private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west  Namib Desert. Conserving the pro-Namib, the area along the eastern edge of the Namib Desert, is critically important  in order to facilitate seasonal migratory wildlife routes and to protect biodiversity. It is probably the largest private  nature reserve in southern Africa, extending over an area of more than 200,000 ha. The Reserve shares a 100km border  with the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west and is bordered in the east by the imposing Nubib Mountains. Virtually all facets of the Namib Desert are represented on the Reserve – sand and gravel plains and stretches of savanna  alternate with mountain ranges, inselbergs and vegetated dune belts. 

Please note: the NamibRand Nature Reserve does not offer drives to Sossusvlei or Dead Vlei, all activities are based  on their Reserve only. For travelers wanting to visit Sossusvlei this is best done by adding a night prior to arrival at  Wolwedans after your stay in Swakopmund, This would allow an early morning visit to the dunes (best time to view)  before heading down to the lodge to arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon activity (both optional extras). 

Overnight: Wolwedans Dune Camp 
Positioned on the edge of a 250-metre high dune, Dune Camp has the most extraordinary views across the Namibrand  reserve. The main areas are spread out across a series of interlocking decks ensuring that the lounge, dining area and  tea room all enjoy views across the endless dune landscape to the mountains beyond. The tented and wooden  structures are designed for the desert. The canvas sides can all be opened up capturing the cool breeze in the hot  summer months, and in winter keeping you warm when the canvas sides are rolled down. 

Dune camp has a wonderful charm which appeals to a traveler looking for a down to earth but still luxurious experience.  The main areas are intimate and the fire pit encourages conversation between guests. We seat our guests at a long  shared table for dinner but private tables can be requested. 

SEASONALITY: Open all year CHILDREN: 7+ years (Dune Camp Private accepts children of all ages)

The second and final day at Wolwedans Dune Camp, you will have an oppurtunity to do more activites before we head to Windhoek the following day.

Route:      NamibRand Nature Reserve to Windhoek
Distance: 390 km

Journey: Your drive today takes you back to Windhoek via the town of Rehoboth.

Please note: outbound flights to be booked for late afternoon / early evening, alternatively spend the night in Windhoek  and depart Namibia the following day.